We’ve had many discussions with faith-filled athletes who say, “I’m a different animal when I compete,” or “I know the values God wants me to live by, but carrying those out on the field…come on..” Imagine the weight carried by a tactical athlete, specifically, a military special warfare officer called to carry out a warfare mission and live by Christian values. Each discussion has boiled down to the main topic: How to Act as a Christian Athlete

✅ How to Act as a Christian Athlete

The world we live in has become very dogmatic, extreme, you have to be on one side or another. We’ve been tempted by the message to be a successful athlete, you have to be hard-nosed, trash-talking, and cold-blooded – the opposite of what our Christian faith calls us to be.

Thankfully, scripture is very clear: 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

St. Paul’s writing tells us that being a Christian in sports calls us to be different from what the world desires; furthermore, his examples in Acts show us how we can Act as Christian athletes.

🌍Confuse The World

Throughout Acts, there are many examples of how the world thought St. Paul would behave due to worldly circumstances. Instead of giving in to worldly temptations, he confused them with his faith, showed us how to act as a Christian Athlete, and in doing so, brought more people to Christianity.

For example, he is both beaten and arrested in Philippi after ministering to a girl. Instead of complaining or revealing that he has been tried unfairly due to his Roman citizenship, he is singing songs of praise. 

While in prison, an earthquake opens the cell doors. The Jailer woke and saw the doors open; and out of fear of punishment, he drew his sword, about to take his own life, thinking the prisoners had escaped.  “But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, ‘Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” Acts 16:28

This moment leads to the jailer’s conversion, and he and his household are baptized.

🏅How to Apply St. Paul’s Example in Sports

1. Don’t run the race aimlessly: St. Paul competed well in the faith, despite adversity, he continued towards the crown of honoring the Father’s will. Work hard, achieve the desires on your heart, become the best athlete you can be, but don’t sacrifice your Christian values in the process.
2. Confuse the world: notice the term Christian Athlete – what word comes first? Christian, so act in a way that puts him above others.
   1. When you win a competition and have put in hours of exhausting practice, you confuse the world by thanking the Lord and giving glory to him before using any sentiment of “I”. 
   2. When you lose, as heartbreaking as it can be, remember the battle has already been won. Don’t throw your helmet, water bottles, chairs, etc. Congratulate your opponent and celebrate them. Come back next year, and if you win the championship, confuse them again, go lift up the team that fell short.
3. Self-control: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7. To have self-control, you need to nourish your spirit and know your values. Download this [free guide] to do so. 

✝️Conclusion: The Christian Athlete’s Mission

Being a Christian in sports isn’t about silencing your competitive fire; it’s about redirecting it toward a higher purpose. It means choosing faith over pride, humility over ego, and conviction over conformity. Like St. Paul, we’re called to confuse the world, not with chaos, but with radical grace, restraint, and joy that doesn’t make sense to a win-at-all-costs culture.

You won’t always get it right. You’ll slip. You’ll fall short. But what separates the Christian athlete is not perfection — it’s repentance, renewal, and the relentless pursuit of Christ through every rep, race, win, and loss. So when you step onto the field, the court, or the track, remember: you are not just an athlete who happens to be a Christian — you are a Christian who happens to be an athlete. Compete with excellence. Lead with character. And above all, glorify God in all that you do.

Author: 

Dr. Dillon Caswell, PT, DPT, SCS

Hope Evangelist | Top-Selling Author & Speaker | Human Performance Expert